Just as [以前 (yǐqián) can be
used](Before_a_specific_time_with_"yiqian" "wikilink") to describe the
events *before* a specific time, 以后 (yǐhòu) can be used to describe
the events *after* a specific time.

Structure
---------

This grammar structure is similar to the English "after such-and-such,
something happens." It's quite simple, all you have to do is put the
"after" after the time words or time phrase.

<div class="jiegou">
Time / Verb + 以后, ....

</div>
The time can be a time or date, or an action or event. It may or may not
be in the future.

Examples
--------

<div class="liju">
-   <strong>下午 三点</strong> <em>以后</em>， 我 不 在 家。
    <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàwǔ sāndiǎn</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>,
    wǒ bù zài jiā.</span><span class="trans">After three p.m., I will
    not be at home.</span>
-   <strong>来 中国</strong> <em>以后</em>， 她 认识 了 她 的 老公。
    <span class="pinyin"><strong>Lái Zhōngguó</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>,
    tā rènshi le tā de lǎogōng.</span><span class="trans">After coming
    to China, she met her husband.</span>
-   她 <strong> 一个月</strong> <em>以后</em> 开始
    上班。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>yī gè yuè</strong>
    <em>yǐhòu</em> kāishǐ shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">After one
    month, she will start working.</span>
-   <strong> 吃 完 午饭 </strong> <em>以后</em> ， 我们 要
    开会。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Chī wán wǔfàn </strong>
    <em>yǐhòu</em>, wǒmen yào kāihuì.</span><span class="trans">We are
    going to have a meeting after we finish lunch.</span>
-   <strong> 几年 </strong> <em>以后</em> ，我们 公司 会 更
    大。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Jǐ nián </strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>,
    wǒmen gōngsī huì gèng dà.</span><span class="trans">In a few years,
    our company will be even bigger.</span>
-   老板 <strong>半个小时</strong> <em>以后</em>
    回来。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <strong> bàn gè xiǎoshí</strong>
    <em>yǐhòu</em> huílái.</span><span class="trans">After half an hour,
    the boss will return.</span>
-   <strong>下班</strong> <em>以后</em>你 想 跟 我们 一起 去 打球 吗?
    <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàbān</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>, nǐ
    xiǎng gēn wǒmen yīqǐ qù dǎqiú ma? </span><span  class="trans">After
    we get off work, would you like to go play ball with us? </span>
-   老板 <strong>来 </strong> 了 <em>以后</em> ，大家 都 不 说话 了。
    <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <strong> lái </strong> le
    <em>yǐhòu</em>, dàjiā dōu bù shuōhuà
    le.</span><span class="trans">After the boss came, everyone stopped
    talking.</span>
-   你 <strong>到家</strong> <em>以后</em> 给 我
    打电话。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>dào jiā</strong>
    <em>yǐhòu</em> gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">After
    you get home, call me.</span>
-   <strong>结婚</strong> <em>以后</em> 爸爸 不 喝酒
    了。<span class="pinyin"> <strong>Jiéhūn</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>
    bàba bù hējiǔ le.</span><span class="trans">After he got married,
    dad stopped drinking.</span>

</div>
Note that this use of 以后 (yǐhòu) is often shortened to 后 (hòu).

See also
--------

-   [Before a specific time](Before_a_specific_time "wikilink")
-   [In the future in general](In_the_future_in_general "wikilink")
-   [At the time when](At_the_time_when "wikilink")
-   [Before and after with "zhiqian" and
    "zhihou"](Before_and_after_with_"zhiqian"_and_"zhihou" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

-   [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical
    Guide](Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide "wikilink") (p.
    261)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")